MainSci-techPornographic images found on children's games in Google Play store

Pornographic images found on children's games in Google Play store

14 January, 2018

According to Google Play's data, the apps have been downloaded between 3 million and 7 million times. "Indeed, these plots continue to be effective even today, especially when they originate in apps downloaded from trusted sources such as Google Play".

The researchers from security firm Check Point reported a new Android threat, dubbed AdultSwine, which disguises as Android games. Some of the removed games have been downloaded over 1 million times, like Five Nights Survival Craft and McQueen Car Racing Game, based on the Disney Pixar character from the film Cars.

Checkpoint's on the malware warns it shows pornographic ads which would obscure the actual game, including one featuring a picture of Kim Kardashian - fittingly, the code is called AdultSwine.

Some of the apps also display fake notices showing the phone has been infected by a virus and provides a malicious link to a fake virus cleaner.

Read our developer guide, The Family Playbook, to get tips on how to succeed with family and kid-focused apps and games on Google Play.

Update 12/01/2017 12:55pm ET: Updated with additional comment from Google. That includes displaying the bogus ads, scaring users to insecurity fake security apps and charging victims for services they didn't request or receive.

When the malicious code is installed onto your phone, it waits for the user to unlock the device to start the malicious activity. Android's security team is increasingly using machine learning to detect malware in the Google Play store but Android Play Protect, the operating system's security tool, has mixed results in independent tests against competitors. The big G also disabled the developers' accounts and will issue what it says are "strong warnings" to users who installed the 63 apps.

Cybersecurity company Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. discovered the malware, which it named "AdultSwine", and informed Google about the infected games, some of which were targeted toward children. They further went on to thank Check Point for their work in keeping their apps safe. The apps in the family program have not been affected.

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